Barcelona Prove Too Hot To Handle For United

Barcelona will have the tag of 'Champions of Europe' for the next year at least after taking all the glory with a 3-1 victory over Manchester United at Wembley where they showed why the world calls them the greatest team ever seen.

Pedro broke the deadlock with a deft finish before Wayne Rooney sent the teams in level at half time but the game was won thanks to Lionel Messi, who else, and David Villa, giving Eric Abidal the chance to raise the giant trophy aloft, just ten weeks after having surgery to remove a tumour from his liver, a true footballing fairytale

The Manchester United team news was the first to come through the wire and it saw Sir Alex Ferguson employ the tried and tested 4-4-2 formation. Rooney started up front, partnering the Mexican Javier Hernandez while Ryan Giggs and Michael Carrick were both preferred to Darren Fletcher in the centre of midfield, the Scotsman's comeback from illness coming perhaps too quickly for European football's biggest match. Park started on the left, his tireless work down the right being employed to tame the marauding Daniel Alves. Antonio Valencia started on the other wing and the back line was made up of Fabio, Ferdinand, Vidic and Evra, Edwin Van Der Sar taking his place in goal for one final fling with the professional game.

Javier Mascherano, once sent off against United for Liverpool, began the game in the centre of defence, partnering ex-Reds defender Gerard Pique. The midfield was as expected, Sergio Busquets doing the dirty work in the central three, allowing Xavi and Iniesta the freedom to express themselves and impact the game. The front line of Barca also came as no surprise, the irrepressible world footballer of the year Lionel Messi sat in between Pedro and David Villa.

From the get go Manchester United came out and set their stall, hustling and harrying Dani Alves, dispossessing the full back in the opening minute, although as the game closed they were noticably tired, their containing plan taking it's toll after a long season. To start with Barcelona looked edgy, the loose balls weren't falling their way and the odd pass was going awry.

But as in Rome two years ago the opening dominance of United was soaked up the the Catalan's as David Villa forced a corner, taken short and leading to a shout of handball against Evra in the penalty area, though the decision would have been undoubtedly harsh. It was Barca who had the first true effort on goal, Pedro getting in behind Vidic and volleying wide of the upright from a wide ball.

Barca were starting to step up to their flowing best and the challenges from the United midfield, though biting in their nature, were finding nothing but the fresh Wembley air as the sharpness of their oppositions maestros allowed them to dodged the flying feet. The possession was mounting in favour of the Spaniards and they were beginning to create chances too, David Villa twice having time to shoot wide from the edge of the box while the passing rhythm was starting to slice through the English sides defence, last ditch challenges being the order of the day as Messi began finding himself within 15 yards of their goal, and eventually the pressure told, Barcelona made the breakthrough.

Xavi Hernandez, the string puller in the metronomic attacking unit of the Spanish champions, was afforded too much time and space to push forward and a pin-point diagonal pass with the outside of his left boot found Pedro with a clear sight of goal and he made no mistake, Van Der Sar the first man to lose his nerve as he went the wrong way, Pedro rolling the ball coolly in at the near post. Barcelona, much like their fanbase behind Valdes' goal, were bouncing.

Just minutes later, though, it was all square, United providing a quintessentially Barcelona goal. Wayne Rooney clipped a ball though to Ryan Giggs who, though suspiciously loitering on the offside line, laid the ball back to Rooney who finished in typically emphatic fashion, guiding the ball into the top corner with his instep, perfectly controlled in his technique.

As soon as you like the status quo was back, Barcelona were pushing forward and David Villa stung the hands of Van Der Sar before twice the Catalan's were the length of a stud away from retaking the lead, Pedro the first to fail to connect, that after a cleverly worked free kick, while the final chance of the half fell the way of Lionel Messi who attempted a give and go, but his go was just not quick enough.

The second half began where the first left off, more possession and short, incisive passing from Barcelona, Dani Alves having the first chance of the half, finding a way into the box only to shoot at Van Der Sar's legs, and there was no stop to it, United were not given any respite and they soon fell behind again.

Lionel Messi dropped deep and received a pass from Xavi, shooting as quick as a flash and catching the Red Devil's custodian off guard, finding the back of the net with a sweetly struck, left footed effort, right in front of the jubilant Barca faithful. It was his first goal on English soil and he couldn't have found a bigger ocassion in which to score it.

The Argentinian magician wasn't finished there, though as he weaved his way into yet another shooting position from where he made Van Der Sar drop swiftly onto his side to keep out a stinging low effort. And just a couple of minutes later he was bringing the ball forward yet again, eventually getting on the end of a Dani Alves pull back with a backheel flick that was only stopped on the line by United boot.

There were no bones about it, Messi was running the game, and after two beautiful pieces of skill he burst into the box, the ball breaking to David Villa on the edge of the area and the former Valencia striker made it 3-1 with an exquisite curling effort that swung around the arms of Van Der Sar and with that it was all over. Not that anyone had told Wayne Rooney that, the bulldog forward landing an effort onto the roof of the net.

The three minutes of added time were all but meaningless in the grand scheme of things, Ibrahim Afellay's late strike would have only rubbed United's face in the dirt had it been hit a sight more verve. But on a night when the speed and presence of mind shown by the Barcelona players was by far superior nobody could have complained about the final score, they had claimed club footballs ultimate prize with club footballs ultimate team. That's not to discredit the effort shown by England's champions, they played a massive part in the showpiece event that fans had dreamed of, Barcelona's majesty was just too much for them to handle.

Indeed, the world stands to them, lauds them, and rightly so, they have claimed the glory tonight and they won't be stopping there.

Ferguson Puts Foward United's Claim To Glory

Two years is a relatively long time in the career of a professional footballer and that is how long Manchester United have waited to enact revenge on Barcelona and put to bed the memories that have haunted them since they tasted defeat in the Champions League final in May 2009.

It was a game that saw Barcelona outplay the Red Devils, their slick passing and movement making United look like comparative schoolboys in Rome's Stadio Olimpico. The English side never turned up, not aside from the opening exchanges when their former defender Gerard Pique made a crucial block from Ji-Sung Park early on. From then on it was one way football, the triangles that Barca produced baffled United who, without the tireless work of the suspended Darren Fletcher in midfield, failed to cope with the skillful beauty of their opponents game.

But that was the past and it is time for United to live in the now, when Saturday evening comes there should be no thoughts of what has been, just picture the glory and do your utmost to claim it. There is no time to listen to the never ending string of public lauding that follows Barcelona round like the sweetest of fragrances. A single set of ninety minutes is all it takes to win a one-off game that could define the careers of this squad, not only to win the Champions League but to to do it against a team of such undoubted quality would be a memory to savour.

Let's not count out United, though, as they face the might of the Catalonian's. It may not have been classic United this season, they haven't been at their flowing best, but yet there is a spirit in the camp that has seen them fight until the end and the number of goals they have put past their opposition in the dying seconds has underlined this fact. Four players have netted goals in double figures with just Dimitar Berbatov scoring over twenty, and even then he only did so by one. In Europe the Reds have been uncharitable to opposition, leaking just four goals over the course of their twelve ties thus far, all of which have come at Old Trafford, while scoring eighteen. That includes eleven in the knockout rounds, most notably in the semi-final with Schalke where they scored six over the course of two legs.

Sir Alex Ferguson described Saturday's match as possibly 'the best final of the decade'. The long serving Manchester United manager was speaking at his final press conference before the big game when he spoke about the magnitude the match could leave in it's wake.

"The attraction of two great teams with great history is obvious. It’s an appealing final in terms of what could happen in this game.

"Anything could happen. There could be a lot of goals, a lot of excitement. Hopefully it turns out that way.

"I don’t think anyone can question the attacking players that will be on view tomorrow."

 

Indeed, if United are to stop Barca they will have to cope with the competitions top scorer in Lionel Messi. The breathtaking Argentinian has scored eleven in twelve European appearances alone, his 42 in all other competitions over the course of a showcase season have gone to prove that he deserves the title of 'World Footballer of the Year'. But Ferguson is also confident that the qualities in his side can help them claim the clubs fourth European cup.

 

"We have players who will all like this stage. In terms of Rooney's progress in Europe, he is much more mature than he was in 2009, and others too. The experience of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic is [also] vital.

"Our experience, and our progress in Europe this season, gives us a good chance."

Stood just metres along the touchline from Ferguson will be one of the games hottest young managers in Pep Guardiola, and he was complimentary on the way the Spaniard has developed an already machine-like footballing outfit into the team they are today. Tinkering with Frank Rijkaard's style by progressing the defensive system, playing with a high defensive line and pressing in numbers across the pitch, Guardiola also focussed on keeping hold of the ball across the pitch, developing what is now known as 'tiki taka' football, strings of short passes mixed with sharp, incisive movement that has made them a feared force worldwide.

"I think that the most revealing thing about Pep Guardiola is that for a young coach who came to the club and in many ways [he has] changed the way they played.

"I think we all recognise that he’s brought maturity to the team from beating us in Rome to the present day. You see that maturity and also he’s changed the way that they press the ball, which has been very impressive in the last year in particular, so for a young coach who's done fantastically well, he has a good presence about him.

"He’s played for Barcelona which helps and if you look at the past history of Barcelona’s Dutch coaches, he’s made a big step forward for Spanish coaches."

 

The Scot also insisted that he wasn't out for revenge for what happened in Rome, choosing instead to talk about how his sides preparations will make the difference this time around.
 

"We are very focused this time and our preparation has been better. We maybe made one or two mistakes last time, but not this time. We were disappointed we lost the game but it isn't a matter of revenge, it is about our own personal pride.
 
"We did most of the work before the Blackpool game [last Sunday] and winning the league the previous week helped us that way.
 
"The players have to trust themselves and trust each other because I trust them. I know they'll do the job right.

"This team has unity and our record in Europe this year is good. We're used to playing in Europe, we have that experience and we're pleased with what we've achieved this year in Europe."

 
And so it is with an air of trepidation that many fans of Manchester United will walk up Wembley Way, late on Saturday afternoon, but that seems not to have affected Sir Alex Ferguson's confidence in his own sides chance to take the European crown.

Arsenal V Barcelona Preview

Arguably the world's two most attractive football teams face off with each other tonight in North London as Arsenal prepare to square up to La Liga leaders Barcelona.

Barca are rampant at the top of La Liga, only having their 16 match winning streak ended at the weekend while the Londoner's are well known for their slick brand of football, and with the two clubs standings outside of Europe this should prove to be the most watched tie of the round.

Who's Up For It?

Arsenal have been boosted by the return of Samir Nasri to their squad, the midfielder having spent two weeks out with the hamstring injury he suffered in the 2-1 FA Cup win over Huddersfield. Manager Arsene Wenger will make the decision as to whether the Frenchman will play today.

Tomas Rosicky will return to the squad but Abou Diaby will be missing with a calf injury that he picked up while on international duty with France.

Two Barcelona first team players didn't travel with the squad, namely Carles Puyol and Jeffren Suarez, but B teamer Thiago Alcantara is a member of the party, although he is unlikely to make it into Pep Guardiola's matchday squad.

How Are They Doing?

Both sides have won five of their last six matches, though two of those Arsenal wins came against lower division opponents in cup competitions. The Gunners put the disappointment of letting a four goal lead slip at Newcastle behind them with a 2-0 weekend win over Wolves. In terms of League only form Arsenal are yet to lose since the turn of the year, drawing twice in the aforementioned Newcastle game and a dour stalemate against title rivals Manchester City at the Emirates.

Prior to this weekend Barcelona had won 16 consecutive league matches but a 1-1 draw with lowly Sporting Gijon ended their spectacular run. Their previous five games have, however, yielded 17 goals while overall they have scored an incredible 97 times in just 37 matches in all competitions this season, conceding only 19 in the process. Their results this season have also included an 8-0 rout away at UD Alemria and a thumping 5-0 'El Classico' win over Real Madrid in the following game at the Nou Camp.

How About In The Champions League?

Arsenal had a wobble in their group stage campaign, losing to both Shakhtar Donetsk and Braga before a 3-1 victory over Partizan Belgrade, the same scoreline as it finished in the first game between the two, confirmed their progression. The Gunners did win all of their home games, though, and will be confident at the Emirates.

Their opponents went through the first phase unbeaten with two big wins over Panathinaikos (5-1 at home and 3-0 away). They won their other two home games by two goals to nil but drew twice on the road in Copenhagen and Kazan, both games finishing 1-1.

Who Are The Match Winners?

Undoubtedly the biggest name on either team sheet will be that of 2010's Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi. Since a quiet world cup in the summer the Argentine forward has once again been on fire for his club. Last season Messi scored 45 goals in 52 games but this season he looks as though he will tear that record apart having already but away 37 goals in 32 appearances, an absolutely staggering record, and Arsenal fans won't appreciate his 19 assists up to this point in the season.

Arsenal's top scorer Samir Nasri has 14 goals this season, a paltry return compared to Messi's, but will face a race to get fit in time for this first leg of the tie. Not far behind him on 12 goals is Dutch international Robin Van Persie who is currently in superb form. The former Feyenoord striker played three games in August but suffered an ankle injury against Blackburn which ruled him out until November when he made two substitute appearances and finally a start right at the end of the month. Two games later he made his Champions League bow, scoring against Partizan Belgrade and has since scored a further 11 in just over two months.

Have We Met Before?

Tonight the English side will be hoping to break their duck against the Spanish champions, having failed to win in five previous meetings between the two sides.

Most recently the clubs met in the Champions League quarter-finals last term. Two Zlatan Ibrahimovic goals put the Catalans two up at the Emirates Stadium in the first leg before Theo Walcott came off of the bench to pull a goal back for the Gunners and after Carles Puyol was sent off Cesc Fabregas equalised from the penalty spot with five minutes remaining. The second leg started off well for Arsenal, Nicklas Bendtner giving the overall lead in the tie, but that was short lived as Lionel Messi scored just three minutes later and from then on the youngster never looked back, going on to score a total of four goals in the game including an ingenious chip over Manuel Almunia.

The highest profile meeting between the two sides came in the 2006 Champions League final at the Stade de France where Arsenal began by having Jens Lehmann controversialy sent off, the first man to be so in a Champions League final, but it was the Gunners who went in with a half time lead thanks to a Sol Campbell header. The introduction of Henrick Larsson, however, turned the game on it's head as the Swede set up both Samuel Eto,o and Juliano Belletti to give Barca the title.

The first head-to-head between Arsenal and Barca occured in 1999 when Kanu scored a late Arsenal equaliser at the Nou Camp. The return tie in the Champions League group B match up finished 4-2 to Barcelona at Highbury.

Who Said What?

Arsene Wenger believes his side have a strong chance of beating the Catalan's tonight and taking a lead into the second leg, he said:

"We have made our way forward by challenging in the Premier League, we are in all competitions and if you look at the predictions in pre-season, nobody in England predicted we would be today where we are.

"We have made our own way with our own strength and mental belief and there’s a good opportunity tomorrow to show we can be stronger than the predictions, and who doesn’t like that in football?"

He was then asked whether last seasons experience of playing Barcelona has improved his side, to which he responded:

"Certainly, yes, because we came out of the second game with a lot of frustrations because we missed the turning point of the game when we were 1-0 up over there," he went on.

"We are a stronger team now because this team has attitude, focus and every day since I am manager for a long time, I have not seen many teams with such consistent focus every day to improve. The main reason we have improved is because of the attitude of the players."

Pep Guardiola, manager of Barcelona, appreciates the way Arsenal like to play the game, very much as his own side do, telling the press:

"I like watching Arsenal, but I’d rather not be playing against them. We are two teams who want the ball and we both suffer without it. We want possession for as long as possible in order to make as many attacking situations as we can."

"This is going to be a tough game and our ties at this stage in the last two seasons [against Lyon and Stuttgart] were our worst performances in the competition. We have to charge ourselves up for this to be the quickest to get into the swing of things. I hope that the atmosphere and the quality of our opponents will help us to do that."

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